1 killed, 8 injured in arson attack in B’desh

Dhaka: At least one person was killed and eight others suffered serious burn injuries when unidentified men hurled petrol bombs at a truck in Bangladesh, hours after the opposition alliance announced a fresh spell of 72-hour countrywide strike.
A 42-year-old man died today while being shifted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital from another medical centre.
“He received more than 90 per cent burn injuries,” said Dr Partha Shankar Pal, residential surgeon of the DMCH burn unit.
Eight other victims are undergoing treatment at the burn unit of the hospital, the police official said, adding that five of them are in a critical condition.
Unidentified attackers hurled petrol bombs at the truck on Magura-Jessore highway on Saturday, hours after the BNP-led 20-party alliance announced a fresh spell of 72-hour countrywide strike, The Daily Star reported.
The Opposition called the fresh shutdown demanding the release of its arrested leaders, including BNP joint secretary general Salahuddin Ahmed, and to protest “enforced disappearance, killing, torture, abduction and arrest of its leaders and activists”.
The BNP-led alliance with fundamentalist Jamaat-e-Islami as a major partner launched a non-stop nationwide transport blockade on January 6 with frequent arson attacks on buses and trucks that have killed over 120 people. (PTI)